The side view mirrors on late model Mazda cars are thick plastic plates with reflective paint coated on them. They sit inside a small ABS plastic cover called the "mirror assembly." The cover protects the mirror from most minor incidents. If the mirror breaks, it will not shatter because it is made of plastic. Usually, the mirror cracks and looks like a spider web. This makes it all but impossible to view objects behind you through the mirror, and replacement is the only option.
Pull the broken mirror out of the mirror assembly. The mirror attaches to the assembly with four metal tabs. If the mirror is still intact, pull the whole thing out with your fingers. If the mirror cracked into pieces, a rare occurrence, pull all of the old mirror pieces out of the assembly.
Place the new mirror into the assembly with the reflective side facing outward. The metal tabs on the back of the mirror line up with a plastic ball located inside of the assembly. The mirror pivots on this ball. Push on the face of the mirror with the palm of your hand until you hear it snap into place.
Rotate the mirror in all directions. This allows you to ensure the mirror is free of any obstructions inside the assembly.
